Too many deployments?
 

Keeping OPSEC in mind I'm seeking advice/input from others that may have been in a similar situation as me. Long story short, I have been at the regional level since 2007. Of that 8 years, six of those years have been on mil leave from various deployments and military flight school. My dilemma is that I was just asked to deploy again for another year. Does this mean if and when I start putting in apps with the majors down the road will they could potentially hold the amount of Mil leave I've been on, against me?
I'm aware of USERRA but do they generally frown on those that have been on 4+deployments? These deployments were all longer than a year. Any input is appreciated...

Unfortunately...

The word I'm getting lately from highly reputable jungle drummers is that certain majors *may* consider (illegally) one's reserve status in their decision making. Perhaps not systematically but more likely at the level of the individual interviewers.

The way it was described to me, they like the military background but would prefer that it remain in the background. 100% out is best (retired even better, since they don't know for sure that a ten-year guy won't sign on with the local guard unit after he gets hired). If you're still participating then a traditional drill schedule would still be better than a history of years and years on orders.

Now I'm not saying the sky is falling, just that it's a factor to consider. If you have that sort of history you probably need to alleviate their unspoken concerns at the interview if you get my drift.

Thanks Rickair for validating my thoughts on this. Your advice is always helpful, much appreciated.

I was employed by a regional for 24 months and I was on mil leave for the last 17 of those months. Last year I was hired by two legacies. They may be looking at it but it didn't seem to be an issue for me or any other of the other regional/guard guys in my classes. I'm not saying it doesn't happen, just sharing my experience.

Oh how the tides turn. In 2001 we were all heroes, MPA flowed for all who wanted and civilian employers even price matched the difference out the goodness of their heart. In 2014+ we're just a bunch of opportunists and paraiahs.... What a croc.

"We support our guard/reserve servicemen and women in their service to the Country....outside the hours of Monday thru Friday, 8 to 5". That's a paraphrase of the last civilian job interview I did before giving up on the whole dual job thing. That was 2008. Based on this thread I surmise it's gotten worse. Smh.

I disagree with the negatives above. I spent most of my time at a regional on military leave. In four years racked up a whole 729 hours. If you can explain your absences it's almost a moot point. In my case I was trying to upgrade to AC and then after upgrade gain seasoning. I just got hired at a legacy with 2300ish hrs. The question honestly didn't even come up in the interview.

It probably has more to do with how you interview and how well-rounded you are. They need all the well qualified pilots they can get quickly. I don't think it'll hurt you.

In an age where people work hard to get out of multiple deployments, thanks for your service.

I don't have any regrets for the deployments and Mil flight school. Yes, deploying are horrible but looking back the experience and all of the close friendships I made, were worth it. The last impression that I want to make at a future interview is that I am not dependable and will be one of 'those guys' always on mil leave. With the deployments drawing down the in the future it probably wont be an issue anyways. Again, thanks for the tips.

They are drawing down? Not in Army fixed wing.

It's a matter of scale.
How much Army fixed-wing is there in theatre?

There is more than 1 theatre and the requirement in the place you refer hasnt gone down yet.

I've told this to other folks in the reserves, and it really helps to choose your employer carefully. Your future company is hiring you as a full time employee. Depending on how they read you in the interview, you will likely never know how they respond to the fact that you are in the reserves. Either way, it's a tough dance to give 100% to both your military and civilian job, and one of them needs to know who is the wife and who is the mistress that will never see a ring.

That's funny right there!

My reserve status never even came up in the interview. Capt interviewing me was a retired O-6. Lots of mil guys in the industry, they get it.

The number of CABs has significantly decreased from where it was a few years ago. Iraq had what, zero and Afgh was down to I think 2 a year and a half ago and shrinking to 1, if that?

Sure, Iraq may ramp up a little, and we are staying in Afgh a little longer, but the deployment cycle for the average Army aviator is much much slower than it has been over the last decade. The FW community is a different animal. So I would say it is drawing down, or did over the last few years. IOW, employers shouldn't expect year on year off from their guard/reserves like the OP did over the last decade. More like a deployment every few years, in my estimates.

I'm guessing you are VERY "well rounded." Judging by your screen-name, I'd say you are what's known in the HR world as a, "Must Hire". That invalidates anything you have to say here. Sorry, sweetheart. How are you enjoying aviation?

If you need some band aids for those knuckles you're dragging around, let me know.

Saraswhere....
 

You former Skywest, flying the four fans of freedom? As a sweaty & a pilot? LOSA observer?

If yes, Spike you are way off on your statement!

That's me. And you?

I'm the LOSA PM who hired you. :D. Hoping you'll volunteer again this year!

CONGRATS ON THE JOB!!!!

Spike, time to show you are "well rounded" and apologize. How big a man are you? She worked very hard to be where she is at, and is also a very nice, hard working, and smart woman. Or keep sparing with her! You are out classed with Sara. I've seen her resume and work! Have you?

Congrats on the job! 2300ish hours total, of which 800 are regional. So 1500ish hours mil flying with a couple hundred of that from UPT gives you 1300ish hours in the Herc. And I believe you said 120 PIC. Just shows that airlines could care less about flight hours and more about being "well rounded". Good on you for checking as many boxes as you could.

"Well rounded"
 

You covered some of the basics. But there is much, more to the resume. Stop worrying about other pilots and make yourself more competitive. Trust me, she didn't have the entitlement attitude you are displaying. She worked her way up in life to land at a major. She is not responding because she knows that she earned it. Companies will hire based on competitive resumes, not a couple hours repeated hundreds of times. Think whole person concept.

Since you like to analyze resumes, post yours please. It will help understand how "well rounded" you are.

Hmm. Well, I think the thread can get back to the task at hand now. If you don't believe me, then I'll tell you about the five guys in my unit who are Instructor Pilots who also flew for regionals before getting picked up by legacies in the last year. One of them spent five years at Skw and flew less hours than I did there. I can't speak for his hours but he was "well rounded" in the same ways I am. (Resume speaking of course)

Like Boxes said, maybe you ought to stop focusing on the perceived unfairness and worry about your own resume.

Yes. My point.. and thanks for pointing it out. Much more to the resume besides flight hours. And I'm not worried in the slightest.

Unless I'm missing something, I can't see where in my post do I show a sense of worry or "entitled" attitude. You're a little too defensive... I was actually saying congrats... I'm pretty sure I wrote that. I "analyzed" her flight hours merely for the point of she's hardly got any. I think that's pretty clear. She must have had an impressive resume, which is why I said "good on you for checking as many boxes".

Good for her to get a job. Doesn't bother me one bit. In fact, I like to see low time pilots get hired, it tells me I don't need to worry about building hours, instead I need to work on the "whole person" concept. So take a freakin chill pill.

And I don't need for you to understand how "well rounded" I am, I'm not asking. It's pretty clear the airlines are looking for that "whole person".

Sarah, like I originally said... Congrats. I have no issues with you being hired. I'm not sure what you are referring to in not believing you. Somewhere my post has been misunderstood.

That being said... I'm a mil IP with similar background as you (except more hours). I can check every box that you posted, I didn't do LOSA but I have a safety background. CP meet and greet, dozens of internal LORs. I'm extremely grateful for where I am today, and I don't feel like I'm owed anything. I couldn't care less that you got hired before me, truthfully. I know this is the beginning of the wave and my time will come when it's my time.

I apologize. I think you got lumped in with the troll earlier in the post. I admit I got a little defensive due to the earlier post so I definitely accept your congrats. I know my flight hours don't speak for anything other than the minimums and that being female does present an advantage. I completely understand any feelings of unfairness there. That being said, it hasn't been exactly easy to get where I am either.

I finished my degree in the back of the Herk on multiple deployments and applied for pilot training. I worked hard and did more than just flight hours. I agree with your assessment that flight hours don't trump extra-curricular. That sucks to hear because of the limited amount of time we get to spend at home. (I'm married to a civilian plumber who works his butt off) Part of the extra stuff I did was to spend more time with him! We will all get hired, and seniority matters but is changing drastically in the next few years. I doubt most of us will spend a decade on reserve like in the past, but I admit to maybe being wrong. Who knows? My original post wasn't from MY vast knowledge but also my observation of many friends who have also gotten hired in the last few years who have spent plenty of time on mil leave. I wish good luck to everyone. Even if they're a little disillusioned from their time thus far in the industry. It's been hard, and I appreciate the sacrifices many have made. It's getting better.

I also worked with sarahswhere, both in the AF and at SkyWest. I did a deployment with her and was on her crew. She is a good pilot and a great person. She got to where she is at through hard work and dedication. Nothing has ever handed to her because she is a female. She checked a lot of different boxes and that's probably why she got the interview with low total time. I flew with her in combat, real combat, she handled it like a true professional. United is lucky to have her. Congrats Sarah.

Much appreciated, thanks for the compliment.

guidoverduci,
Sorry if I miss understood what you were saying! It simply appeared your remark, based on another trolls post, was inappropriate in the case of Sarah. Also sorry for not posting sooner, I had to leave the conversation to fly back from a deployment.

You will be hired! Just a question of when.